RSIEC had on Friday encouraged electorates to go out and exercise their voting rights in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has commenced the state’s local government election despite calls by the Nigerian Police Force and some stakeholders to suspend the process.
As observed by TheNiche, both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials have arrived at the Registration and Accreditation Centers (RACs) in some local government areas.
The atmosphere in the state also reflected typical election day conditions, with roads notably quiet, but with the absence of police officers.
Electorates in the state were also seen at several polling boots including one at the Government Technical College in Ahoada East.
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Governor of Rivers Siminalayi Fubara, while speaking on Friday, reaffirmed his commitment to moving forward with the election, despite the Rivers State Police Command’s decision to withdraw from overseeing the process.
The governor accused the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, of attempting to undermine the election in favor of “an Abuja-based politician.”
Subsequently, RSIEC, emphasized that the election would proceed as planned, encouraging residents to exercise their voting rights in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we emphasize unequivocally that the 5th October 2024 Local Government Council Elections in Rivers State will hold as scheduled, and there is no going back,” RSIEC said in a statement by its Commissioner for Civil Education/Public Affairs Tobin Tamunotonye.
